Fred Davis, Arts and Sciences, 1976

I was proud to be a Tufts student activist in the 1970s; I helped bring the Fast for a World Harvest to campus and helped get the Environmental Studies major started. Since graduation, I have had a career in the field of energy conservation and renewables. Today's climate action campaign continues a long Tufts tradition of global consciousness.

George Homsy, Arts and Sciences, 1986

I understand that divestment is difficult. Oil and gas companies have become tightly woven into our quality of life and our finances. Extricating ourselves will be difficult, but the university must make a start. It is a moral imperative with practical and educational outcomes that are crucial.

Yet, as we call on Tufts to divest, each of us must also move to a more sustainable lifestyle. When students take their first job, they should choose live close to work and drive less (or walk, bus, or bike). Hang our clothes out to dry instead of using a machine to handle what the sun and wind do well. Buy or rent, and thus heat, a smaller house/apartment. No excuses. If we call on Tufts to divest, which it should, we can do no less ourselves.

John Subranni, Arts and Sciences, 2010

As a law student studying international environmental and human rights law, I believe that universities can add a critical, forward-thinking view to the climate issue. Our actions today will have large-scale humanitarian impacts felt around the world - and it's already happening.

Tufts seeks to graduate responsible global citizens, and it's time that it starts acting like one.  

Rev. Dr. William Gardiner, Arts and Sciences, 1967

As graduate of Crane Theological School at Tufts University I am deeply concerned about the impact of global warming on all life forms on God's beautiful creation. I am working with others in the faith community to divest funds in church endowments from fossil fuel industries. I hope that Tufts will join with other college communities to provide moral leadership for this crucial issue. The human future is in peril because we have released so much carbon into the atmosphere.

Cyrus Kharas, Arts and Sciences, 2008

This is a critical step to ensuring that Tufts' financial practices align with the values that all new students aspire to foster, current students work to develop, and alumni proudly share.

Joelle Biele, Art and Sciences, 1991

Tufts should divest from fossil fuel companies they way it did in 1989 when it divested from companies doing business in South Africa.  It is an urgent global environmental and economic matter.

Jennifer Baldwin, Arts and Sciences, 2005

It was Tufts that originally inspired me to use my career to address climate change. Through courses like Environmental Biology, I first learned about the problem. I went on to learn about solutions through courses at UEP, work with the Tufts Climate Initiative, and participation in the environmental student group ECO. Today, I work in Washington on international climate policy and finance. I have Tufts to thank for getting me started down this path.

Tufts was an early university leader on climate change and sustainability, but it has fallen behind others since the days of the Talloires Declaration. Divesting from fossil fuels would be a symbol that environmental (and social) responsibility is still at the core of Tufts DNA. Given increasing student interest in the topic, it would serve the university well to take a positive stance on this. Switching investments around wouldn't necessarily result in decreased revenues for the university anyway. 

I strongly urge Tufts to divest from the largest 200 fossil fuel companies so that the university practices what it preaches.

Stephanie Kaplan, Arts and Sciences, 1994

Thank you to the current students at Tufts for keeping this alive! We were bringing this up during my years at Tufts 1990-1994. It appears the current President and Board are paying attention and I commend everyone involved. I'm just sorry it's been nearly 20 years and now we have reached the 400 ppm mark for CO2. Please keep up the good work - we must do all we can!

Susie Meserve, Arts and Sciences, 1995

Last fall, I heard Bill McKibben speak in Berkeley, where I now live, and I got excited to start divestment talks at Tufts. Some life stuff intervened and I return to the cause several months later to find this campaign. I'm thrilled. Go Tufts! In 1993 and 1994 I participated in the divestment campaign from James Bay. We did it then, and we can do it now. We MUST do it now.

Jed Holtzman, Arts and Sciences, 1999

Climate change endangers all aspects of our global civilization, not to mention other species.  Institutions divested from South Africa during apartheid, and that "only" doomed a whole lot of people, not EVERYONE as does climate change.  This is a no-brainer.

Daniel Wong, Arts and Sciences, 2009

We are running out of time.

Rebecca Batorsky, Arts and Sciences, 2012

Universities like Tufts are already educating students about thinking globally and about the danger of climate change. It's time to put these ideas into action and take steps to build a sustainable society.

Divestment is just the beginning!